ABOUT FEATHERPATH AND THE MARBLE HALLS. 165 .

memory of his mother and of Primrose came back to him—he saw
their faces, so kind, so longing, so patient.

With a violent effort he pulled his hand out of Featherpate’s.

“Tam not going with you,” he exclaimed. “I don’t believe in
that short cut and those stairs which lead to the house of Mr. Penalty.
Id rather risk going up the mountain in the dark, and meeting the
Wild Men of the Woods.”

With each word he spoke Buttercup felt stronger and braver. He
quite expected Featherpate to oppose him; but, on the contrary, the
pretty little fellow gave a gentle, half-sorrowful sigh, and the next
instant he had disappeared.

Buttercup was once more alone. It was now almost quite dark
He felt soft little feathers of snow falling like ice morsels on his face.
He could no longer see the green ribbon of grass—even the steep hill
up which he was to climb to Mr. Penalty’s house looked vague and
indistinct.

“Oh! what shall I do?” he sobbed. He threw himself on the
ground, and cried aloud in despair, ‘‘ Oh, mother, mother, save me |
Oh, Primrose! why did you go away? Oh, what an unhappy boy I
am !—what an unhappy boy I am!”

“Come, come, this will never do,” said a sharp, queer voice in his ear.

He sprang to his feet, and to his amazement saw Mrs. Discipline
standing by his side.

“T felt uncomfortable about you, Buttercup,” she said, “so I
followed you here. I guessed you'd be up to some mischief, and, of
course, you were. You were very nearly taken in by Featherpate—
oh yes, I know all about it—I know too that you conquered him in
the end. I am not going to praise you, but nevertheless, I am pleased.
Follow me up the hill; you must visit my father, but Pll show you
the way to his house. Come, no loitering, for if you have plenty of
time to spare, it is more than I have.”

Mrs. Discipline went on in front as she spoke; she was dressed all
in fur, and in the uncertain light looked something like a huge “ Baby
Bunting.” She began to walk up the steep hill, and Buttercup,

stumbling, falling, and half crying, followed.